Method of making lubricants and products thereof.



- harsh r CHRISTOPHER, H. BIERBAUM, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

METHOD OTB MAKING LUBRICANTS AND PRQDUCTS THEREOF.

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No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER H. Bran- BAUM, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie, and in the State of New York, have invented new and USGfJl-IHIPTOVEIHEntS in Methods of Making Lubricants and Products Thereof.

The present invention provides a method for combining petrolene with graphite and simultaneously freeing the graphite of its earthy impurities.

It is generallyknown by those skilled in the art, that a comparatively small amount of graphite introduced into lubricating oils and greases is highly desirable. The introduction of petrolene in proper proportions.

for both oils and greases is likewise very beneficial, and the object of the present invention is to provide such a lubricating product and a simple and eiiicient method of manufacturing the same,

The graphite is first minedwith sufiicient Water to make a creamy or slow lowing mass. It is then ground in a manner similar to that of mixed paints lhis grinding is preferably done on the ordinary paint grinding machine suitable for that purpose and any one familiar with the operation of this class of machinery can grind the graphite to any desired degree of fineness. At this point the grading of the ground graph its by sedimentation is such that any one faiii miliar with the art can perform this function by any of the usual methods. The most suitable grinding machines for this purpose are the bur or stone mill, either the {lat or conical form.-

After the graphite is ground'and still in a wet condition it is then mixed with a predetermined amount or a prepared solution of petrolene, whereupon this mixture is placed in a'mixing machine such as is ordinarily used in paint works, for the mixing and compounding of paints. A suitable pro:

'portion of parts for this purpose is 10 pounds of petrolene solution to 30 pounds of the wet mixture of ground graphite, this mixture consisting of substantially i l pounds of graphite'and 16 pounds of water. These ingredients are then agitated in the mechanical mixer, During the first part ofthe operation the mass assumes an apparently homogeneous condition, hut after somewhat prolonged agitation it becomes curdy and the solid particles gradually increase Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rice; is, rare.

Application filed April 7, 1915. Serial No. 19sec.

size until finally they become one complete mass. The process very much resembles that of churning butter from cream, though the real transformation of the process is due to the fact that the graphite has a greater aiiinwater, and on the other hand the earthy impurities such as silica, iron oxid, alumina, clay and the like have a far greater aflinity for water than graphite has for Water. For this reason the graphite is first to unite with the petrolene' and the earthy materials-remain in the water and so remain separated out from the pasty mass. It is essential, however, that definite proportions be lid-- hered to, as an appreciable excess of petrolene solution over and above the proportion specified does not produce the purifying eh ,this process of agitation more impurities are eliminated which should he carried away by again decanting. This process of washing- Gil .ity for the petrolenc solution than for the may be prolonged tocany desired degree with y the result of the elimination of all'undesirable impurities. As the washing and kneading processes continue, a more and more complete separation of water from the pasty mass is likewise eiiected. Bycarryinp; this operation to a practical limit the mechanically entrained water in the graphite paste can he reduced to substantially 10%.

After the washing process is completed it. then becomes necessary to evaporate the final residue of Water from the graphite paste.

This can be done in any one of the many kinds of suitable evaporators now in general use in the various industries for just such purposes.

An additional amount of petrolene solution and oil should thereupon be added for further dilution, This should he done 'w'hile'the graphite mass is still in a heated condition and alter the driving oil oil themechanically entrained Water. For the final-boiling process it is convenient to ill?) are as follows: It permits grinding the .lene. qu rements of the petrol-sue solution menuse a mixture consisting of say 14 pounds of graphite, 16% pounds ofpetrolene solution and 9 pounds of a light grade of mineral lubricating oil. produces a final prodnot which will. readily mix with lubricants and at the some time give proper final proportion for use. By adding say 1% of this finished product to lubricating oil or say 2 ounces to a, pound oi grease the highly benefioial results of this compound can be obtained. I I

Petrolene is the soluble part of espheltum and the petrolene solutionbefore mentioned may be prepared follows: First dissolve the sspheltum in say '84" Bnum gssolene and efterthst separate out the insoluble from the soluble part by filtration orsedimentation and decanting, then disflil oil the gesolene. It is convenient, however, to add lubricating oil before the final completion of distillation or evaporation of the gesolene' by odding lubricating 01]. say in the proportionof 4 pounds of oil te 11 poundsof petro- This proportion will answer the re tioned in these specifications;

The largest particle of graphite that can be carried into the oil film of a beerin is the most beneficial because it furnishes he largest quantity of graphite upon these surfaces where it is necessary when the film 1s squeezed out and at the some time the largest particles are the least liable to flow out from between the bearing surfaces when the oil film is destroyed. Thereiore the graphite should not be ground too-fine. EX- cessively lar e particles, on the other hand,

have the decided drawback of settling out and also clogging theoil passages. With the strong oliinity however which petrolene has for graphite superior and satisfactoryv suspension of the ground graphite in lubricating oil can be eiieeted in e msnner herein disclosed. i

The distinct edventsges of this giro-sees graphite in Water, thus producing the finest product of its this enables fleet menses ing the graphite in water and thus by sedimentation the ground graphite may he graded to any desired degree of. fineness and uniformity, It provides for the dehydrab ing of the Wet graphite, that is, changing the aqueous condition of the graphite into an nnguent state, Without first reducing the graphite to a dry state. It provides for the elimination. of the earthy or mineral impuritree which the graphite may contain. It-

' furnishes the product a; convenient form in which. it can bereadily diluted or mixed with lubricants to any desired degree of dilutlom Lastl", It provides very superior sue ension of the graphite in the lubricant.

' 'ris evident that the detailed procedure of this process and the proportions herein specified may be varied within the scope of the appended. claims Without departing from my invention. 1, therefore do not confine myself to the exact details of operations, nor the oreoise proportions herein specified, but

VF -.st 1 do claim and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

' l. The herein described method of making it lubricant which consists in mixing a Wet mass of pulverized graphite with petrolene end sgitsting said mixture.

2. The herein described method of making 'a lubricant which consists in mixing at wet mess of pulverized graphite with petrolene, agitating said mixture and diluting the mixture with oil end a, solution of petrolene. 

